PPL skills test validility?

[liam548]

Hi,

Can someone confirm the following.


Following the passing of a PPL skills test, what is the time limit for sending off the application if for instance there is a delay in passing the RT exam and its not done?


Is there any link to when the written exams were completed?

Thanks

Liam

[Lagentium]

Liam, hanging my arse out, but here goes!

From LASORS C1.4 for PPL issue:

The Skill Test shall be taken within 6 months of completing the flight instruction. All sections of the Skill Test must be completed within 6 months. The Skill Test has a validity of 12 months for the purpose of licence issue. I thought the ground exams have a 2 year validity from the first one, does the R/T exam tie in with the ground exam validity period?
Standing by for a rocket, all welcome!
Cheers, Jim

[MarcusA]

Hi Liam,

Assuming it is the PPL(A) you are applying for, the skills test is valid for 12 months as described in LASORS C1.4:

The Skill Test shall be taken within 6 months of completing the flight instruction. All sections of the Skill Test must be completed within 6 months. The Skill Test has a validity of 12 months for the purpose of licence issue.

On the exam side of things you've got 24 months from the date you finished them all (LASORS C1.3):

These examinations contain multiple-choice questions for the most part and are normally conducted under the auspices of a FTO or a Registered Facility. An applicant shall be deemed to have successfully completed the theoretical examinations for the JAR-FCL PPL(A) when awarded a pass in all of the above examinations within a period of 18 months counted from the end of the calendar month when the applicant first attempted the examination. A pass will be accepted for the grant of a JAR-FCL PPL(A) during the 24 months from the date of successfully completing all of the theoretical knowledge examinations.

Hope that helps and you manage to get the RT sorted in time!

[liam548]

thanks for the quick reponses.

So to confirm I understand the 12 months you have after the skills test for it to be used for licence issue.

But how does the theory exams link into this? If they were all completed within the 18 months ready for the skills test, do I have 1 year for the skills test and 2 years from the last theory whichever comes first?


I presume the RT is a seperate thing altogether or does t have to be done within a time limit of the RT theory??

[MarcusA]

On the exam front - If you were to assume all the theory exams were completed on 01/01/2012, these would continue to be recognised for two years (thus until 01/01/2014).

Two examples if you like would then be:

1. If the skills test was also completed on 01/01/2012, you would then have until 01/01/2013 within which to complete the RT exam and get the licence (due to the 1 year validity of the skills test).

2. On the other hand, you could also complete this skills test at the beginning of 2013 and you then have until 01/01/2014 to get the licence. (Again due to the 1 year validity of the skills test).

So in summary, providing the RT test is completed and licence obtained within 1 year of the skills test AND within 2 years of completing all theory exams then you are good to go.

The RT test should simply be completed within the two year validity of the theory exams, so would naturally be done correctly if the above timeframe is used. LASORS B1.2:

The RTF written examinations and practical test for a stand-alone licence are valid for a period of 12 months for licence issue. Where a candidate completes the examinations for a FRTOL in conjunction with a course
of training for a JAR-FCL PPL, the validity of the radiote- lephony examinations may be extended to 24 months from • the date of passing the last PPL theoretical examination, provided that all examinations are passed within a 18 month period and that application for both licences is made concurrently. PPL holders who subsequently wish to obtain a FRTOL will be required to complete the practical Communications test and apply within 12 months.

Since LASORs can be open to individual interpretation at times it's always recommended to give the CAA a call if ever in doubt to double check all will be ok!

Jim / others... please chip in should you have any further thoughts!

[Whopity]

Or put simply, the exams and the Skills test must be in date when you apply. The RT written is mandatory, but the practical is not however; if you don't do them all together, the RT exams revert to their 12 month validity LASORS B1.2

Another point you should consider is that you medical must also be valid, have an accident and lose the medical then everything could become null and void so don't delay sending in a completed application.

[liam548]

thanks for the replies. All is now clear.